Työväenmuseo Werstas

About the museum

Työväenmuseo Werstas preserves Finnish working life and social history, and the Ministry of Education and Culture has designated it the national responsibility museum for working life and social history. The museum is located in the historic Finlayson factory area in central Tampere. It is maintained by the Työväen museoyhdistys ry (Workers’ Museum Association), which has 28 member organisations.

The museum’s principle is to present history fairly. Its exhibitions give a voice to ordinary workers and to various minorities, and admission is always free. The museum receives more than 50,000 visitors a year.

Werstas also runs two smaller museums: the Kuurojen museo (Deaf Museum), merged with it in 2012, has its exhibition space in Helsinki, and its collections are kept in Tampere. The Idänsuhteiden museo Nootti (Museum of Eastern Relations Nootti) on Hämeenpuisto in Tampere is also run by Werstas; its predecessor, the Lenin Museum, joined Werstas in 2014.

Highlights

• Main exhibition Yhteisvoimin (Together) on the history of workers from the 19th century to the present day
• Industrial museum on Tampere’s 200-year industrial history
• Steam engine museum: Finland’s largest steam engine in its original place
• Machines of the Museokirjapaino (Museum Printing House)
• Always free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Yhteisvoimin – The main exhibition of Werstas takes visitors from the 19th century to the present day from the perspective of workers’ history; it includes, among other things, the dance-evening atmosphere of a workers’ hall, the printing machines and a banking hall of the 1980s.
• Teollisuusmuseo – The exhibition tells the 200-year story of Tampere’s industry and of how Tampere became the ‘Manchester of Finland’.
• Höyrykonemuseo – The Sulzer steam engine of the Finlayson factory from 1900 is Finland’s largest factory steam engine, with an output of 1,650 horsepower.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Työväen museoyhdistys ry

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is always free. A guided tour during opening hours costs €85 per hour (up to 25 people); outside opening hours the guiding fee is doubled. Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) can be bought from the museum shop.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Steam engine museum has step-free access to the upper platform, but the machine hall floor can only be reached by stairs. A disabled parking badge allows parking for three hours at one space in front of the museum on Väinö Linnan aukio (square). The auditorium has an induction loop.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

In the Yhteisvoimin exhibition’s Osuusliike Vekara (Vekara Cooperative), children can play at shopkeeping, and with the hand-cranked Sulo bread-making machine they can try making bread. The Industrial Museum is designed as a destination for the whole family; it has, among other things, children’s factory-town building blocks and the Viiperi Hiiri (Viiperi Mouse) mouse holes.

Getting there & parking

The main entrance is on Väinö Linnan aukio. Bicycle racks are next to the entrance.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells gifts, books and products of the Industrial Museum’s Manse range.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 80 guests.

Available for hire are Auditorio Väinö (about 70–80 people) and the Bertel party room (about 40–70 people); catering and museum guiding can be ordered.

Plan your visit